On the day Melbourne played their 2000th game, and Shane Woewodin his 100th consecutive match it was celebrations all round against the woeful Dockers who dropped to 0-6 for the season.

Freo had an early lead, but inaccuracy stopped them from building any sort of match winning lead and despite the absence of Jeff White, a late withdrawal with a sore knee, and Jeff Farmer the Dockers couldn't put Melbourne away despite dominating the midfield.

Two minutes into the third term a Troy Cook goal put Fremantle 24 points in front and it looked like their winless start to the season was about to end. Despite the rain coming down heavily the Demons kicked five of the last six goals of the quarter to go in slightly at the last change

With the game on the line Fremantle fell to pieces and conceded eight goals. Alistair Nicholson, thrown into the ruck in the absence of White and Troy Simmonds dominated the centre, and when Fremantle lost Koops, Bandy, Modra and Bell to injury during the last quarter they were drowned by the Demons.